American Girl Book: Appropriate for What Age?

In my opinion, she's still a little on the young side. I have heard it talks about dieting and eating disorders and has a graphic image of a girl inserting a tampon. I say, just answer her questions as they come up and skip the book until she's a bit older, unless you are prepared to talk about those things now. Look it up on amazon and read all the different reviews there and that will give you a good idea if it is what you are looking for or not.

You know your child best - grab the book at the book store and give it a quick look-through and see what you think. (Barnes and Noble carries it.)

I got it for my daughter at 9 because we were already seeing (and smelling) some early changes, and she loved it. She's eleven now and has had her first period and still rereads it from time to time. Another friend of mine got it for her daughter in second grade because she was asking a lot of questions, and she found it both helpful and appropriate.

No, I think 7 is a bit young. I gave the book to my daughter on her 10th birthday in April. I bought it to give it to her last Christmas, but leafed through it and decided to wait. Around her 10th birthday, my daughter started needing to wear a bra, so we went bra shopping and I gave her the book. We looked it over together, and discussed a few of her concerns related to periods etc...and then I left her to peruse it at her leisure. She spent an hour reading it cover to cover. She has referred to it many times in the last six months, and I'm glad she has it on hand for when her period actually starts. It's a great book when introduced at the right age!

For now, you can answer your daughters questions as in (a period is a little bit of blood that older girls and women have once a month). Leave it at that unless she asks why girls get periods. Then you can elaborate further. At 7, I would give her the minimum explanation required to answer her question.

If she's asking these kinds of questions then it sounds like she's ready for the book. These books do not cover sex, just puberty and all that goes with that. My daughter likes them. I got them for her at age 9 but would have gotten them earlier if I had known about them!

Great book! I bought it for my oldest when she was 10 (last year). Little sister will be 9 next month and I'd like to share it with her. Who knows, maybe her big sister already did. It wouldn't take long for you to flip through it and decide if it's right for your daughter. I personally think if she's asking questions then there is no better "first explanation" book than this one.

No or yes. Depends on how much you want to tell your daughter.

I have those books. The series is good. My daughter likes it. She is 9.
5th Grade. But I got her those books from when she was younger. And good grief, my Husband... even talked to my daughter about periods. But well, at least he is being a participatory Dad and is open with his daughter. And my daughter had no problem with it.

It is really up to you and a personal thing to decide, for your girl.

The books do have an age range, I forget what it was. Just look it up online. I think it says 8+ years old.

My daughter was using deodorant from an earlier age. Like 7. No biggie. She knew how to use it, she sees me doing it. She just puts it on in the morning before she gets dressed. Just like brushing her teeth.
I got her the Arm & Hammer "Essentials Natural" Deodorant. It has no aluminum or parabens in it.
And from 3rd grade, my daughter's Teachers would talk to the class about using deodorant because, kids were getting smelly at school.

Some girls, get their periods from 9 years old.
And they at that age, start to develop breasts too. I have seen that in my daughter's classmates.
Even the Teachers told me... from 9 years old... their body starts to change for some girls.

Absolutely!!!! You can begin by leafing through it and see what interests her. Address that which does, and leave what she doesn't seem interested in for a later time. My youngest and I read it when she was 8, at the time her body was changing.

She's not too young at all, especially if she's asking questions related to puberty. As soon as my eldest daughter turned 8 years old I gave her that book ... okay, maybe not "as soon as" but 3 months later at Christmas. But I bought it right after her 8th birthday to give her at Christmas. She's 12 now and still loves that book, and she's had her period for a whole year. The books is worn and tattered. My 7 year old turns 8 in February and she's asking for her own copy of the book. I plan to get it for her for Christmas. My 9 year old isn't interested in her own book but I'm sure she'll share with my youngest.

My SD received it at 9 yrs old and I thought it was appropriate. You should look over the book and decide when it is right to give it to your child. It covers a lot of material. You can also use it to go over just parts of the process, if your daughter has specific questions.

I was leafing through it at the library. My daughter is a mature six, and I felt she could see it soon... No HURRY, but she COULD see it now or by around 8-ish. I'd say 7 is OK. My daughter is mature and curious and would "like it", but she's still to young to really "need to read" it...